Trunk and luggage rack



April 1, 1930. w. w. WILSON TRUNK AND LUGGAGE RACK Original Filed Sept.16, 1929 Jzzwzzfor William Mil/173021 M 9 zorzzeys.

Patented Apr. 1, 1930.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WILLIAM W. WILSON, OF SIOUX CITY, IOWA,ASSIGNOR 'I'O KARI-KEEN MANUFAC- TUBING COMPANY, INC., A CORPORATION OFDELAWARE TRUNK AND LUGGAGE RACK Original application iiled September 16,1929, Serial No. 392,960. I Divided and this application filed October19, 1929. Serial No. 400,876.

This invention relates to an automobile trunk and luggage rack adaptedfor attachment to the rear end of an automobile, the parts being simple,durable and comparatively inexpensive.

The present application is a division 'of my application Serial No.392,960, filed September 16, 1929, on a trunk rack.

An object of the'invention is to provide a trunk and luggage rack whichis especially applicable for use on automobiles having rearwardlyextending bumper arms or bars such as in the Ford automobile of the 1928model; the present invention contemplating the use of such-bumper armsas a means of attachment for the trunk and luggage rack and at the sametime providing a support for bumper elements.

Still a further object is to' provide a trunk and luggage rack structureadapted to be supported at its ends upon members projecting rearwardlyfrom the automobile body or frame and adapted for connectionintermediate its ends to the body portion of the automobile so that thetrunk and luggage rack is supported both at its ends and. at a pointintermedia-te its ends.

It may be here mentioned that in the Ford automobile of the1928 model,there is provided a spare tire support which consists of a castingrigidly connected to the rear of the automobile body ata pointsubstantially midway between the .fenders. of the automobile. My trunkand luggage rack is adapted to be supported intermediate its ends bymeans of a connection extending from the trunk and luggage rack up tothe body where the spare tire support normally is positioned.

Another object is to provide a construction in a trunk and luggage rackwhereby the rack, while being supported at its ends on brackets extendedfrom the vehicle frame, will also be securely affixed to the vehiclebody and to the rear end frame member of the chassis in such manner asto afford a strong and substantial carrier for loads imposed thereon.

Still a further object is to provide bumper Wardly a greater distancethan the normal distance of the bumper elements-so as to accommodate thetrunk and luggage rack between the rear of the automobile and theposition of the bumper elements.

Another object is to provide a trunk and luggage rack of the characterdescribed embodying a frame structure and a means of attachment to therear end of an automobile which consists of few parts that may bereadily constructed and assembled, which may be easily applied, andwhich is strong and durable.

More particularly it is my object to provide a trunk and luggage rackconsisting of side plates for attachment to bumper support elements,transverse means for connectionbetween the side plates to serve as acarrier for a trunk and luggage rack, an intermediate supporting meansconsisting of a plate to be attached to a cross member normallyextending between the bumper support elements on opposite sides of anautomobile, the central portion of such plate being connected with theback of the automobile adjacent the center thereof by bolts extendinginto said openings provided for normally supporting a tire carrier.

1 With these and other objects in view" my invention consists in theconstruction, arrangement and combination of the various parts of mydevice, whereby the objects con templated are attained, as hereinaftermore fully set forth,,pointed out in my claims, and

angle irons and flat plates so connected together as to provide a rigidunit.

The ordinary Ford car of the 1928 type includes a pair of rearwardlyextending bumper bars or supports 10. The supports 10. have their outerends curved outwardly as at 12 and bumper elements 0 are connected tothestraight portion of the bumper bar 10 and to the outwardly curvedportion 12.

When my trunk and/or luggage structure is used, it is necessary toprovide an adaptor for positioning the bumper elements C rearwardly agreater distance than their normal position relative to the rear of theautomobile The adaptors include a straight element of strap material 14and an outwardly project ing portion 16. The straight portion 14 isbolted to the bumper support 10 by means of a pair of bolts 18. Thebolts 18 are those normally provided for connectingthe bumperelement Cto the support 10.

The portion 16 of the adaptor is bolted to the portion 12 of the bumpersupport 10 b a bolt 19. The ends of the straight por tlon 14 and of thecurved portion 16 are provided with bolt holes or openings so that thebumper element C may be secured thereto by the use of bolts. It willthus be seen that theadaptor composed of the'parts 14 and 16 doesnothing more than place the osition of the bumper element C a greateristance rearwardly than that of the automobile body-proper.

The trunk and luggage rack structure includes a pair of side plates 20having inturned flanges 22. The side lates 20 are secured together by apair 0 angle bars 24 and 26. Bolts28 are used'to connect the angle bars24 and 26 to the flanges 22 of the side plates 20. The side plates 20are adapted to be connected to .the bumper bar 10 by means of the bolts18;

The-- to the umper bar 10'on oneside of a foot member" 30 and the sideplate 20 on the other side thereof, all three of these members beingsecured to the bumper bar 10 on the inside, as best shown inFigure 3 ofthe drawin s. A foot member 30 of course is provi ed for each bumper bar10 as shown in Figure .2, and a'pipe or brace extends between the footmembers 30.

In order to connect the trunk or lug age rack structure to the body ofthe automo ile,

ortion 14 of the adaptoris securedthe plate 34 is a fitting 38. Thefitting 38 is provided with a pair of openings adapted to receive boltsor screws 40.

An auxiliary cover plate'42, substantiallyv triangular in outline, ispositioned on the back of the automobile body and connected thereto bythe bolts 40 as well as a third .bolt 44. The bolts 40 and 44 projectinto and connect with the body at the point where the normal tirecarrier and support is provided. The tire carrier of course is removed 1so that the trunk and lugga e rack structure could be thus supported. nthe'event that the tire carrier does not interfere with the luggagecarrier on the rack the tire carrier can be replaced by using longerbolts 40 and 4- It will be noted that the bolts 40 project through thecover plate 42 as well as the fitting 38. It will thus be seen thatthrough the medium of the plate 34'and fitting 38, I connect the trunkand luggage rack structure intermediate its ends to the body of theautomobile. The ends of the angle-iron cross members 24 and 26 projectbeyond the side plates 20 and I provide a cover element 46 as clearlyillustrated in Figure 2 of the drawings. This cover plate isindicated bydotted lines in Figure 1, and one is provided for each end of the rackstructure.

It will be noted that my trunk and luggage rack structure is adapted tobe secured to an automobile and to cooperate with the bumper supportsthereof which serve as a means .of connection and support for thestructure. The structure'is thus supported on its ends on the rearwardlyextending members 10 and at its center by the plates which are adaptedto be secured to the automobile body at the position where thespare tirecarrier is normally attached. 'The central or intermediate support inconjunction with end sup portson the bumper bar 10 provide a very .rigidsupportin construction for a trunk and luggage rac on the carrier.

' Some changes. may be made in the construction and arrangement of theparts of my device-without departing from the real spirit and purpose ofmy invention, and it is my intention to cover by my claims. any modifiedforms of structure or use of mechanical equivalents, which may bereasonably included within their scope.

I claim as my invention:

1. In combination with an automobile having a pair of rearwardlyextending bumper supporting arms, a carrying rack comprising a pair ofside plates secured to said arms and extendmg upwardly therefrom,transverse means of connection between said plates to serve as thecarrier, a brace rod extending between said bumper supporting arms, anintermediate supporting element connected to the automobile body andextendin in-o posite directions therefrom towards t e en s of said bracerod whereb the carrier isbraced and supported throug the medium of saidbrace rod and connection with the intermediate 1portion of theautomobile body. 2.

n combination with an automobile having a pair of rearwardly extendingbumper supporting arms, a carrying rack comprising a pair of 'sideplates secured to said arms and extendin upwardly therefrom, transversemeans of connection between said plates to serve as the carrier, abracerod extending between said bumper supporting arms, an intermediatesupporting e ement connected to the automobile body and extending in oposite directions therefrom towards the on s of said brace rod andsupportingly associated with the ends of said carrier structure wherebythe carrier is additionally supported by its connection with theintermediate portion of the automobile body.

3. In combination with an automobile having a pair of rearwardlyextending bumper supporting arms, a' carrying rack comprising a pair ofside plates secured to said arms and extending upwardly therefrom,transverse means of connection between said plates to serve as thecarrier, a brace rod extending between said bumper supporting arms, anintermediate supporting element connected to the automobile body andextending in o posite directions therefrom towards the en s of saidbrace rod and means of connection betwaen said supporting element andsaid brace ro 4. In combination with an automobile having a pair ofrearwardly extending bumper supporting arms, a carrying rack comprisinga pair of side plates secured to said arms and extendin upwardlytherefrom, transverse means 0 connection between said plates to serve asthe carrier, a brace rod extending between said bumper supporting arms,an intermediate supporting element connected to the automobile body and.to said brace rod whereby the brace rod is supported and the endsthereof support the bumper supporting arms and the carrying rack.

5. In combination with an automobile having a pair of rearwardlyextending members projecting from the side frame members thereof and abrace rod connecting said pairof members together intermediate theirends, a carrying structure adapted to be supported at its ends on saidrearwardly extending members and an additional support for said carryingstructure connected intermediate its end.

to the rear central portion of the automobile body and projectingdownwardly and outwardly from its point of connection with theautomobile in substantial alignment with said brace rod.

6. In combination with an automobile having a pair of-rearwardlyextending members, a trunk 'rack structure comprising a pair oftransversely arranged supporting bars, and elements connecting the endsof said bars together, said end elements being secured to saidrearwardly extending members and supported thereby, a brace rod between'the ends of said members and an intermediate support for said trunkrack, said intermediate support/being secured to the back of saidautomobile body and to said brace rod for supporting the brace rod andthereby the trunk rack.

In combination with an automobile having a pair of rearwardly extendingmembers, a trunk rack structure comprising a pair of transverselyarranged supporting bars, and elements connectin the ends of said barsto? gether, said end e ements being secured to said rearwardly extendingmembers and supported thereby, an intermediate brace support for saidtrunk rack, said intermediate support being secured to the back of saidautomobile body and to said brace rod for supporting the brace rod andthereby the trunk rack, the connection of said intermediate support'tosaid brace rod being by U-bolts. 8. In combination with an automobilehav-' mg a pair of rearwardly extending members prO ect ng from theframe members thereof, a carrying structure adapted to be supported at1ts ends on said rearwardly extending members, and an additional supportfor said carrying structure connected intermediate its ends to the rearcentral portion of the automobile body and projecting downwardly andoutwardly from its point of connection with the automobile and adaptedto support said rearwardly extending'members intermediate their ends. I9. In combination with an automobile havng a pair of rearwardlyextending supportmg arms, a carrying rack comprising a pair of s deplates secured to said arms and extending upwardly, transverse means ofconnection between said plates to serve as the.

carrier, and an additional'support for said carrying rack connectedintermediate its ends to the rear central portion of the automobile bodyprojecting downwardly and outwardly from its point of connection withthe automobile and adapted to support said rearward ly. extendingmembers intermediate their ends. 7

WILLIAM W. WILSON.

